Carers hit by pension changes

Kevin Mullan

DUP MP Gregory Campbell says women born in the 1950s are increasingly having to look after elderly parents, which wouldn’t have been the case in the past.

He made the comments during a debate on the ongoing process to equalise the retirement age for men and women.

One in four women aged 50 to 64 have caring responsibilities, compared with one in six men, according to Labour MP Barbara Keeley.

Mr Campbell asked: “Does she agree that females in this age group are increasingly having to look after aged parents in their 80s and 90s, which would not have been the case 30 or 40 years ago?”

Ms Keeley replied: “Indeed. As we are living longer, so the number of carers is increasing. A Carers UK survey this year found that nearly a third of the female carers who responded and who were aged 60-plus said that they had retired early to care.”